Francis Matthews (actor)

Francis Matthews
Born 2 September 1927
York, England
Died 14 June 2014 (aged 86)
Education St Michael's Jesuit College, Leeds
Occupation Actor
Years active 1950s–2014
Television Paul Temple
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Spouse(s) Angela Browne (m. 1963–2001) (her death)
Children Damien
Paul
Dominic
Family Paul Shelley (brother)

Francis Matthews (2 September 1927 – 14 June 2014) was an English film and television actor, best known for playing Paul Temple in the BBC TV series and Captain Scarlet from Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.[1]

Early life

Matthews was born in York. He attended St George's RC Primary School there, then St Michael's Jesuit College in Leeds, and started his acting career in Leeds repertory theatre, before service in the Royal Navy.

Career

In the 1950s and 1960s, Matthews' film roles for Hammer Studios included the Baron's assistant in The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) and the heroes of Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Rasputin, the Mad Monk (both 1966). On television, from 1969 to 1971, he played Francis Durbridge's amateur private detective Paul Temple in the BBC series of the same name.[2]

Matthews starred opposite Morecambe and Wise in the films The Intelligence Men (1965) and That Riviera Touch (1966), leading to a close friendship with Eric Morecambe. He also appeared throughout the 1960s and 1970s in a variety of TV comedy roles, including Eric & Ernie's Christmas Show, 1977. He appeared alongside George Cole in Charles Woods' sitcom Don't Forget To Write (1977) as a successful writer.

In 1967, Matthews supplied the voice of Captain Scarlet for Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation TV series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. In the late 1970s, he served as narrator and host for Follow Me!, a BBC educational programme that offered a "crash course" in the English language to foreign viewers.

In 1986, Matthews and his wife, Angela Browne, appeared together in the BBC adaptation of the Josephine Tey novel Brat Farrar.[2] In 2000, they starred in two Ray Cooney plays on the cruise ship MS Marco Polo, while she was sailing to the Antarctic: Run For Your Wife and Funny Money.

Personal life

Matthews was married to the actress Angela Browne from 1963 until her death in 2001. Two of their three sons, Damien Matthews and Paul Rattigan, are actors; the other, Dominic, is an artist and musician. Matthews' younger brother, Paul Shelley, is also an actor.

Death

He died on 14 June 2014 at the age of 86 following a short illness. He was survived by his three sons, his five grandchildren, his younger brother Paul Shelley and his sister Maura.[3][4]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Francis Matthews: Still on the case", Mature Times, 17 July 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wilkie, Agnes (1986) "Smoothie and the Brat", Evening Times, 15 February 1986, p. 11. Retrieved 19 November 2013
  3. ↑ Gaughan, Gavin (15 June 2014). "Francis Matthews". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jun/15/francis-matthews-actor-captain-scarlet-gerry-anderson

External links